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Jaime's Story

Jun 6, 2019

Quick and compassionate care from Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett helped ease the pain associated with her condition

Jaime Deal, a patient at Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett

Anytime I need a medical service and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is an option, I choose them over any other hospital in town. I feel like they truly care and do everything they can to make you as comfortable as possible and help you get better.

Kidney stones are a common ailment in adults, with nearly 1 in 10 people experiencing this condition in his or her lifetime. For Jaime Deal, quick and compassionate care from Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett helped ease the pain associated with her condition.

When she began experiencing symptoms, Jaime initially dismissed her pain as simply a backache. “I thought it had just been a long day,” says Jaime. “I wear high heels all day. But as I lay down in the bed, my right side going down to my back just started killing me. It was just the most excruciating pain. It started slowly and then just got worse. I’ve had three children, including one without an epidural — and this pain was worse. It was horrible. I realized at that point that I had to go to the hospital.”

Saving Time by Checking-In

Jaime was sweating and in so much pain that she began lying on the cool floor in her kitchen. That was when she remembered some helpful advice. “My brother had told me about using the online check-in when he had to go to the emergency room,” recalls Jaime. “At the time, I told him ‘If you’re in that much pain, you don’t have time for that.’ And he said, ‘No, I’m telling you, it’s great.’ I had my phone while I was lying there and I thought, ‘Well I may as well try it.’ The first available time was in 45 minutes.” Jaime had three children asleep at home and knew she would need her mom’s help, who lived just a few minutes away, to drive her to the hospital, so she figured it would take her that long to get to the hospital anyway.

“Once I got to the hospital, there were plenty of people in the waiting room,” remembers Jaime. “I went to the front desk and told them I checked in online. They gave me a few forms to sign and within five minutes a nurse came out and called my name. They gave me an IV, checked my symptoms and took me to another room. As I’m walking through the ER, there were people everywhere. I just couldn’t believe that I was already being treated.”

The Right Care, Right Now

Once Jaime was comfortable on a bed in her own room, a doctor examined her. “I was given something immediately for the nausea and then something for the pain,” says Jaime. “They got me more comfortable very quickly. I gave a urine sample that confirmed that it was kidney stones. Then the doctor said I would need a CT scan. The CT scan showed that I had three kidney stones, one on each side and one that I was currently trying to pass, as well as other stones that were still in there. However, the CT scan showed the stones were small enough that I could pass them on my own.”

After her symptoms had been addressed and it was clear she could safely return home, Jaime was released. “From the time I did the check-in from my house, I was back at home and in my bed within four hours with pain medicine and everything I needed. It took me about three weeks to pass all the stones. I ended up having five stones in 45 days. Now I’m good, I’m happy — everything’s good.”

With three children, this was not Jaime’s first visit to Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett . But, it was her first time using the online check-in for emergency care. “I will always use the online check-in for the emergency room from now on,” says Jaime. “I think Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is amazing. They’re very nurturing, very kind. Anytime I need a medical service and Saint Francis Hospital-Bartlett is an option, I choose them over any other hospital in town. I feel like they truly care and do everything they can to make you as comfortable as possible and help you get better.”